A campaign poster for Nigeria's incumbent president and candidate Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, pictured in Lagos, on January 4. At least three journalists were injured by stray bullets after a fight broke out at a campaign rally for the ruling APC party. (AFP/Pius Utomi Ekpei)

In Nigeria, three journalists injured by gunfire while covering political rally

January 10, 2019 3:42 PM ET

New York, January 10, 2019--Nigerian authorities should rigorously investigate violence at a political rally in Lagos on January 8, during which at least three journalists were injured by gunfire, and ensure the safety of reporters covering political events, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Emmanuel Oladesu, an editor of The Nation Newspaper, Temitope Ogunbanke, a correspondent with the New Telegraph, and Abiodun Yusuf, a cameraman with Ibile Television, were injured by stray bullets when fighting broke out and shots were fired during a rally held by Nigeria's ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party, Ogunbanke and Nurudeen Oyewole, a senior reporter at the Daily Trust who was also at the rally, told CPJ. Nigeria is scheduled to hold a national election on February 16.

"The security of journalists should be a priority for all political figures, especially in the period around February's election," said CPJ Africa Program Coordinator Angela Quintal. "Without safety guarantees, journalists will be unable to conduct their work without fear and keep the public informed."

Oyewole told CPJ that the journalists were injured when a gunfight broke out between rival factions of the National Union of Roads Transport Workers, who are APC members. Oyewole said he saw police arrive and then fire their guns into the air in an effort to intervene. He added that it was unclear whose bullets caused the injuries.

Video: Violence at campaign rally

Ogunbanke said he was hit in the face and that Oladesu was hit with two bullets. Both journalists were treated in a hospital, according to Ogunbanke and a report by the local press advocacy group, International Press Centre. Ibile Television, the station for which Yusuf works, did not immediately reply to CPJ's email requesting information about the journalist's injuries.

Chike Oti, spokesperson for Lagos police, told CPJ today that the violence was a result of an "intra-union affair" and was not a premeditated attack on journalists. Oti said that 15 people were arrested in connection with the incident and that the investigation was ongoing.

CPJ's calls to presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu and information minister Lai Mohammed went unanswered. Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, Lagos chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, called on members to shun violence and said those who broke the law would be expelled, according to reports. CPJ's calls to Agbede today went unanswered.

Nigeria's military raids Daily Trust offices, arrests editor

January 7, 2019 7:06 PM ET

New York, January 7, 2019­­­--Nigerian authorities should immediately release Uthman Abubakar, an editor of the privately owned Daily Trust, return equipment seized in raids on the paper's offices, and cease the intimidation of news outlets covering the conflict in Nigeria's northeast, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today....

Nigerian journalist jailed for refusing to reveal source

August 16, 2018 6:32 PM ET

New York, August 16, 2018--Nigerian police should immediately release journalist Samuel Ogundipe, drop all charges against him, and cease efforts to pressure him to reveal any journalistic sources, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today....

Jones Abiri finally in court; Nigeria must release him

August 2, 2018 6:42 PM ET

New York, August 2, 2018--Nigerian authorities should release without delay Jones Abiri, publisher and editor in chief of the Weekly Source newspaper, and drop all charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Nigeria's state security service, known as the DSS, arrested Abiri on July 21, 2016,...

Nigerian musician Davido's security punches reporter

July 27, 2018 3:09 PM ET

New York, July 27, 2018-- Nigerian musician Davido should hold accountable those responsible for the assault of Adekanmbi Damilola, CEO of the online entertainment news platform NoStoryTV, by a member of his private security team and ensure journalists can safely cover his events, the Committee to Protect Journalists said...

Nigerian Broadcasting Commission closes Ekiti state radio and TV

July 18, 2018 12:10 PM ET

New York, July 18, 2018--The Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the federal government-run broadcast regulator, should immediately permit the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State (BSES) to reopen, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On July 14, police acting on the order of the NBC evacuated the state government-owned radio...